In the fourth quarter, they overcame an interception, blocked field goal and potential backbreaking face-mask penalty to improve to 2-0 under rookie head coach Tyrone Willingham, and are off to the team's best start since 1986.

"We showed some signs of being able to stay in there and fight for 60 minutes," said Willingham. "That's what we're hoping will be a component of our team."

Reserve safety Alistair White, who was converted from wide receiver during fall camp, intercepted a pass in his own end zone with 13 seconds remaining to preserve the victory.

"I just worked to contribute to the team some way," said White, who stepped in front of Ute running back Henry Lusk. "Oh man, our morale is sky-high. This gives us a big boost."

Leading by 14 points early in the fourth quarter, the Cards seemed in control at Rice Stadium, much to the dismay of 32,107 partisan spectators. But Utah parlayed a Mark Butterfield interception into a touchdown, then blocked Eric Abrams' 50-yard field-goal attempt with 3:48 left to set up the last-minute drama.

Although Stanford had converted three of three fourth-down situations earlier, Willingham opted for the field-goal try on fourth-and-1 at the Utah 33.

"We felt like we had to score," he said. "They made an excellent play and blocked it, then the excitement began."

Did it ever. Backup quarterback Mike Fouts, who replaced ineffective starter Brandon Jones early in the fourth quarter, drove his team to the Cardinal 7. On fourth-and-2, he was pressured by Stanford outside linebacker Chris Draft but spun away. Draft unintentionally grabbed his face mask and the penalty gave the Utes first-and-goal at the 2 with 40 seconds left.

On first down, White knocked down a pass in the end zone. On second down, Utah tight end Rick Tucker dropped a TD pass in the end zone. After a timeout, Utah lined up in a swinging-gate formation with three linemen in front of Fouts, three players flanked left, three players flanked right, and one running back. Operating from the shotgun, Fouts couldn't handle the high snap, chased down the ball and hurriedly threw for Lusk, but White saw it coming.

"They look for him down close," said White. "I just broke for the ball."

Defensively, it was one of Stanford's best performances since 1992. On three occasions, the Utes drove inside the 5 and wound up with two field gaols.

"This is going to be a huge confidence booster," said inside linebacker Mike Hall. "After the facemask penalty we regrouped. Everybody was in control. There was no chaos in the huddle."

The 20 points allowed were the fewest since San Jose State last season. Likewise for the 255 total yards.

The Cards dominated most of the first half but still trailed, 13-10. They squandered two scoring chances inside the Utah 25 with an interception and a fumble.

"Two bad reads," Butterfield said of his interceptions. "I made the same mistake in the San Jose State game. I tried to force it in there. When you do that, bad things happen."

Butterfield helped his cause with a touchdown pass to Mark Harris and proved an effective scrambler, gaining 35 yards on seven carries.

Running backs Anthony Bookman (113 yards) and Greg Comella (56) also contributed significantly. Bookman was replaced by Quincy Jacobs after two first-half fumbles but came through big down the stretch.

"I'm just happy we got the win," he said. "That's the most important part."

Stanford regained the lead early in the third quarter on a 3-yard TD run by Comella. That completed a 75-yard, 11-play drive prolonged by a 15-yard roughing-the-punter penalty. Butterfield also helped with an 18-yard scramble on third and 7. With 9:53 left in the quarter, the Cards led, 17-13.

Bookman, playing with a sprained left thumb, returned in the third quarter and gave Stanford a lift. So did Comella. The duo did most of the work on Stanford's next possession, an 84-yard, 14-play drive culminating in Butterfield's 3-yard scoring pass to Harris on third and goal. That upped the Cardinal lead to 24-13 with 2:09 remaining.

Cornerback Leroy Pruitt helped the Cards increase their lead by intercepting a Jones pass and returning it to the Utah 37. The offense produced only 4 yards, but Abrams kicked a 50-yard field goal, matching his career long, and Stanford led, 27-13.

Utah coach Ron McBride replaced Jones with Fouts with 14:07 left in the fourth quarter. Fouts, the nephew of NFL Hall of Famer and Bay Area sportscaster Dan Fouts, had no success in his first two series. But the Utes got back into the game.

Butterfield forced an ill-advised pass over the middle on second and 10 from his own 15, and free safety Harold Lusk intercepted and returned it 25 yards to the Cardinal 3. Juan Johnson ran untouched around left end for the touchdown to pull the Utes within seven points, 27-20, with 8:34 left in the game.&lt;